Elizabeth sat on the couch, cradling Ella Grace in her arms. The early morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow around the living room. Robbie was in the kitchen, making coffee, humming a soft tune under his breath. It was a quiet, ordinary moment, but these were the moments Elizabeth cherished most—just the three of them, cocooned in their little world.
Ella was two months old now, and the past weeks had been a whirlwind. The sleepless nights, endless diaper changes, and the constant guessing game of why Ella was crying had taken a toll on both Elizabeth and Robbie. But there were also moments of pure joy, like the way Ella would calm down when she heard Elizabeth's voice or the way she snuggled close to Robbie when he sang her lullabies.
Elizabeth gazed at Ella, marveling at how much she had changed in such a short time. Her tiny features were becoming more distinct: the soft wisps of hair that were slowly darkening, her deep blue eyes that seemed to take in the world with wonder, and the way her little hands would reach out and grasp Elizabeth's finger with surprising strength. Ella was growing and changing every day, and Elizabeth found herself caught between wanting to freeze time and being excited about all the milestones yet to come.
Robbie walked over, two mugs of coffee in hand. He set one down on the table beside Elizabeth and took a seat next to her. He leaned in and kissed the top of Ella's head, inhaling the sweet, soft scent that was uniquely hers.
"She's so peaceful right now," Robbie whispered, careful not to break the calm.
Elizabeth nodded, a tired but content smile on her face. "I think we're finally getting the hang of this, huh?"
Robbie chuckled softly. "I think so. Who knew we'd be celebrating two hours of uninterrupted sleep like it's a major life achievement?"
Elizabeth laughed, and for a moment, the exhaustion seemed to lift. Robbie's sense of humor was something she relied on, especially in these early days of parenthood. They shared a look—one that spoke volumes about all they'd been through together, the late-night worries, and the tiny triumphs that felt monumental.
As they sipped their coffee, Ella began to stir. She wriggled in Elizabeth's arms, her little face scrunching up in a way that usually meant a cry was coming. Elizabeth braced herself, rocking Ella gently, hoping to soothe her before the wails started. But instead of crying, Ella opened her eyes and blinked up at her mother, studying Elizabeth's face with a serious expression that seemed far too grown-up for a two-month-old.
"What's on your mind, little one?" Elizabeth cooed softly, brushing a stray strand of hair from Ella's forehead.
Ella's gaze shifted between Elizabeth and Robbie, as if she were taking in every detail of their faces. Then, to Elizabeth's amazement, Ella's lips curled up into the tiniest of smiles. It was fleeting—just a brief, uncertain quiver of her mouth—but it was unmistakable. Ella was smiling.
"Oh my God, Robbie!" Elizabeth gasped, her heart skipping a beat. "Did you see that? She smiled! She actually smiled!"
Robbie's eyes widened as he leaned closer. "No way, did she? Ella, did you just smile for us?"
Ella responded with another little grin, this time slightly wider, as if she was practicing. It was a smile that lit up her whole face, making her eyes sparkle with a joy that Elizabeth hadn't seen before. It was like a window had opened, and through it, Elizabeth glimpsed a tiny piece of Ella's personality shining through.
Robbie fumbled for his phone, desperate to capture the moment. "Hold on, we have to get this on camera. It's her first smile. This is huge."
Elizabeth laughed, her eyes misting with happy tears. She knew they would have plenty of pictures and videos of Ella as she grew, but nothing would compare to witnessing this milestone in real-time, unfiltered and unplanned. She held Ella close, overwhelmed by a rush of love so intense it made her chest ache.
"She's smiling at you," Robbie said, his voice thick with emotion. "She's smiling at her mama."
Elizabeth looked down at Ella, her heart swelling. In that moment, all the sleepless nights, the frantic googling of parenting advice at 3 a.m., the endless cycle of feeding, burping, and soothing—it all felt worth it. Ella's smile was like a reward, a small but profound reminder that they were doing okay, that Ella was happy and thriving in their care.
Ella's smile faded as quickly as it had appeared, but the memory of it lingered, filling the room with a sense of hope and possibility. Elizabeth and Robbie exchanged a look, silently acknowledging the significance of what they had just witnessed. It wasn't just a milestone for Ella; it was a milestone for them as parents, a sign that they were moving through this journey together, one precious moment at a time.
Elizabeth reached over and squeezed Robbie's hand. "We did it," she whispered, her voice trembling. "We made her smile."
Robbie nodded, blinking back tears. "Yeah, we did. And she's going to smile a lot more, I can feel it."
They sat there in comfortable silence, savoring the warmth of the moment. Robbie snapped a few pictures, not of the smile itself but of the quiet aftermath—the way Ella nestled contentedly in Elizabeth's arms, the way Elizabeth's face was still glowing with the joy of what had just happened. They were images that wouldn't capture the smile exactly, but they would remind them of it forever.
Ella started to fuss a little, her brief moment of calm giving way to the familiar signs of hunger. Elizabeth adjusted her position, preparing to nurse, while Robbie went to refill their coffee cups. But even as they fell back into the routine of the day, the magic of that first smile lingered. It was a simple, beautiful moment that reminded them why they had taken this journey in the first place.
Later that evening, after the chaos of the day had settled and Ella was finally asleep, Elizabeth and Robbie sat together on the couch, scrolling through the photos they had taken. The smiles on their faces were almost as big as Ella's had been.
"We're so lucky," Elizabeth said quietly, leaning her head on Robbie's shoulder.
Robbie wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close. "Yeah, we really are. She's incredible."
Elizabeth smiled to herself, thinking about all the moments that lay ahead of them—Ella's first words, her first steps, all the big and small moments that would shape their lives. But for now, she was content to bask in this one, knowing that it was just the beginning of Ella's journey and theirs as a family.
Robbie kissed the top of Elizabeth's head, and they sat together in the soft glow of the living room, feeling more connected than ever. The road ahead would be filled with challenges, but today, they had seen the first glimpse of Ella's happiness, and that was enough. It was more than enough.
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Unplanned Harmony - Elizabeth Olsen
Fanfiction[UPDATES: MONDAY] Lizzie, a celebrated actress, and Robbie, a passionate singer, have always thrived in the spotlight, balancing their careers with their deep love for each other. When Lizzie discovers she's pregnant, their world takes an unexpected...
